Vacuum cleaner



June 26, 1923. 1,459,946

v. CAMARATA ET Al.

VACUUM CLEANER -Fi1d Nov. 2o. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 1 June Z6, 1923. 1,459,946

v. CAMARATA ET AL VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 2o. 1922 5 sheetssheet 2 mi 'W1 llllllllllllllllltlmunn [Ilm/Inn- 5M jmamifzzzi@ Junen 2 6, 19,23.

v. cAMARATA ET AL VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 2ot 1922 s sheets-sheet June v"2 6, 923.' 1,459,946

A v. CAMARATA ET AL f VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. '2o. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 4 June 26, 1923. 1,459,946

Vv. -CAMARA-m ET AL VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 26, 1922 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented June 26, 1923.V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;-

VINCENT CAMARATA, JOHN CODRICK, AND RAYMOND P. DANLEY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VACUUM CLEANER.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, VINCENT CAWARATA, i

JOHN CoDRrcK, and RAYMOND P. DANLEY,

citizens ofthe United States, residing at.

particularly of a self-propelled type and has for its object to provide a simple and eiiicient meansfor moving and controlling the vacuum cleaner at the willv of the operator.

This object, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, we attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanyingr drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vacuum cleaner having our invention applied thereto ,Figure 2 an inverted view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 a fragmentary central section through the rear part of the vacuum cleaner, certain parts being shown in full,

Figure 4 a section on line 4 4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 a section on line 5 5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 a diagram of the electrical connections.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a frame, 2 a motor mounted on the frame, 3 a nozzle having mounted therein a brush 4 including' lbristles mounted on a shaft having roller parts which frictionally engage wheels 5 and receive rotation therefrom. The wheels 5 are rotatably mounted in the rear of the nozzle and act as a pivot for raising or lowering the same. A fan 6 is operatively connected to one end of the motor shaft to produce suction through the nozzle. The other end of the motor shaft has a fixed bevel gear r 7 meshing with a bevel gear 8- fixed to a shaft 9 having an angular part 10 adapted to slide in a bevel gear 11 rotatably mounted in a U-shaped member 12. The shaft 9 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 9a secured to the motor. A clutching bevel gear 13, which meshes with the bevel gear 11, is rotatably mounted on a shaft 14 having propelling wheels 15 fixed thereto. Shaft 14 is mounted p in bearing 16 in the U-shaped member and held against sidewise movement by bracing strips 17 pivotally connected to the shaft and frame. A clutching bevel gear 18 meshes with bevel gear 11 and is rotatably mounted on shaft 14 for reversing the pro# pelling wheels. Clutching gears 13 and 18 include pins 19 and 20 adapted to engage a clutching member 21 slidably mountedon an angular part 22 of shaft 14. The clutching member 21 has an annular groove 23, which receives a yoke 24 pivoted at 25 for vertical movement, to an arm 26 pivotally mounted, for horizontal movement, on the frame at 27. Arm 26 is operatively connected by a pin and slot connection to a core 28 common to a pair of solenoids 29 and 30 and held in a neutral position by springs 31 and 32 in the solenoids.

manner.

The mechanism for adjusting the nozzle vertically comprises a screw 33 fittirig within a threaded hole in an extension 34 of bracket 9a and held in a slot 35 in the U-shaped member against vertical movement.

The electrical connections for controlling the solenoids comprise main lines 36 and 37. Line 36 leads into the solenoids which have outlet lines 38 and 39 connected to the main line37 by means of double switches 40 and 41. The connections 42 to the motor `make a separate circuit which is completed by a switch 43, The double switch 40 may be mounted in a handle 44 of the vacuum cleaner. Switch 41 is adapted to be used in an extension line at a distance from the operator to enable another person to control the vacuum cleaner, for example, when a child operates the vacuum cleaner, a more competent person may control it at a distance.A

When the vacuum cleaner is in use, switch 40 completes a circuit which energizes solenoid 29 and causes its core to move against the action of the spring 31, thereby actuating clutch member 21 to engage clutching gear 13. A forward movement of the propelling wheels will be imparted from the motor shaft through gear 7, gear 8, shaft 9, gear 11, gear 13, clutch member 21 and shaft 14. To impart a reverse movement to the propelling wheels, switch 40 is moved to complete a circuit and energize solenoid 30, thereby causing the core to move against the action of the spring 32 and, through intermediate The solenoids' Vmay be secured to a frame in any suitable mechanism, cause clutch member 21 to en gage clutching gear 18 and effect the reverse movement.

When'it is desired to adjust the nozzle vertically7 adjusting screw 33 is turned to movethe'vmotor `toward or from the propelling wheels, thus adjusting the nozzle .by swinging it up or down on Wheels 5 Which act as a pivot.

While We have described our invention as taking a particular form; it' will beunderstood that the various parts of our invention may be changed W`ith outde] )arting from the spirit thereof, and hence We do not limit ourselves to the precise construction set forth, but consider that We are at liberty tomake such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims. p l

`Having thus described our invention, whatwe vclaim as new and desire to secure e Letters Patent is z- `1. Ayacuum cleaner comprising a iframe; a motor; a"nozzle; propelling Wheels adjustably mounted on the frame and opera- `tively connected to the motor; reversing means operatively connected to the motor and propelling Wheels, and -means for conytrolling the propelling wheels and reversing means at the vwill of the operator.

Avaeuum cleaner comprising a frame;

a motor; a nozzle; propelling wheels adjustably mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the motor; wheels mountedf'o'n the frame betweenl the propelling Wlfeels and' nozzle; means foradjusting the `frame relatively to the propelling Wheels;

reversing means operatively connected to the motor' and propelling Wheels; and means for controlling .the propelling `Wheels and reversing means at the will of the operator. l

`motor; a clutching member'slildably keyed to the shaft; solenoids for moving the clutch` ing member into engagement with the clutching gears, and means forfcontrolling the solenoids at the will of the operator.

nient with the clutching gears; and means 5. A vacuum cleaner comprising a frame; a motor; a nozzle; a shaft adjustilably mounted on the frame; propelling Wheels fixed to the shaft; clutching gears rotatably mounted on the shaft and operatively connected to the motor; a clutching member slidably keyed to the shaft; solenoids for moving the clutching member into engagefor controlling the solenoids at the Will of the operator.

6. A vacuum cleaner comprising a frame; a motor; a nozzle; a shaft :mounted on'the frame; propelling Wheels fixed to the shaft; clutching gears rotatably mounted on the shaft and operatively connected to vthe motor; a clutching memberslidably keyed to the shaft; solenoids for moving lthe clutching member into engagement with the clutching gears; means normally/holding the clutching member out of engagement with the clutching gears; and means for; controlling the solenoid at the ,Will of the opei` ator. ,y

7. A vacuum cleaner comprising a frame; a motor; a nozzle; a shaft mounted onthe frame; propelling wheels fixed to the shaft; cli'itching gears rotatably mounted onthe shaft; a common gear for rotating the clutching gears and operatively connected tothe motor; ya clutchingmember slidlibly keyed to the shaft, andmeansfor moving thevclutching member into engagement with the clutching gears at the will ofthe operI ator. y

S. A vacuum cleaner comprising la frame; 1 a motor; a nozzle; wheels'inounted near"l the nozzle; a shaft adjustably mouiitedfou the iframe; propelling' Wheels fixed to thel shaft; clutching gears rotatably mounted on the shaft; a clutching member `slidably keyed to the shaft; means for movingzthel clutching member into engagement with the clutching' gears; a U-shaped member rotatably mounted on the shaft; a 1common gear rotatably mounted in the U-sha]')ed member and meshing with the clutching gears; a shaft slidably keyed to the coinmon gear and operatively connected to the moto l l0 and means for adjusting thecommon ge'ai" relative to its shaft to cause adjustment of the nozzle. v

In testimony wherof We have signed our naines to this specification in the presence of tivo subscribimr witnesses.

VINCENT CAMARATA. JOHN CODRICK, i RAYMOND P. DANLEIT.l

lllitnesses y lJLizAnii'rH GARBE, CriAs. E. PoT'is.' 

